Support for shelves and the like



March 1, 1932. H. F. KEIL SUPPORT FOR SHELVES AND THE LIKE Filed Feb.10, 1928 n ii -Eel? Willi/43;;

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Patented Mar. 1, 1932 UNITED STATES- FATE. NT OFFICE HENRY F. KEIL, OFSCABSDALE, NEW YORK,.ASSIGNOR T FRANCIS KEIL & SON, INQ,

i A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK SUPPORT FOR snnnvns nun THE LIKE Applicationfiled February iti, 1928 Serial- No. 253,323.

This invention relates to supports for shelves and the like. One of theobjects there of is to provide an adjustable support of-the' abovenature which is securely held in the position to which it is adjusted.Another obj ect is to provide a construction of the abovenature which isheld firmly against displacement by an accidental blow thereon andagainst tendencies to be displaced when the shelf is being removed orplaced in position. Another object is to provide a construction of theabove nature which is simple and thoroughly dependable. Another objectis to provide a construction of the above nature which is inexpensive tomanufacture. Other objects will be in part obvious or in part pointedout hereinafter. v i

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts as will beexemplified in the structure to be hereinafter described and the scopeof the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

7 In the accompanying drawings which show one or more of the variouspossible embodiments ofthe features of this invention,

a Figure 1 is a perspective view showing two I of the supports and ashelf carried thereby;

Figure 2 is a section taken substantially as indicated by the hue 22 inFigure 3;

Figure 3 is a vertical section through-theshelf and support;

Figure 4 is a detailed view ofa part of the supporting structure; 7Figure 5 is a sectional view of a construction at the outer end of thesupport.

in Figure 5,

Figure 6 is a top view of the parts shown Figure 7 is a detail viewshowing a moditied construction in one part ofthe structure, and

Figure 8 is a rear view of the parts shown in Figure 7.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views of the elongated shape which is adapted to be secured inupright or vertical position against stamped from sheet metal and is ofchannel shape or U-shaped, having side flanges 10a and 10?), the edgesof which rest agamst the wall 11 and which hold the front wall of themember outwardly in spaced relation to the surface of the wall againstwhich it is secured. As shown herein, the member 10 is provided with ahole adjacent each end to receive securing devices such as screws 12 forfastening the member in place. I

In the front wall of the member 10 are a plurality of spaced openings orslots which may be said to be of keyhole shape, the slots havingrelatively'wide upper portions and relatively narrow lower portions.Exterior of the member 10 is a supporting member having two parts bentsubstantially at right angles to each other, a vertical part 13 and anoutwardly horizontally extending part 14. The part 13 is adapted to restagainst the outer surface of themember 10 and the outwardly projectingpart 14 supports the shelf member 15 or other device to be supported bythis construction. As shown in Fi ure 1, the

outer end ofthe part 14 has pre erably an cent the outer end of the part14 is a bracing rod 16. As shown in Figure 3 the end of the rod 16passes through an opening in the part 13 and is threaded, havingthereon. a nut 17 exterior of the member 13. The rod 16 thus braces thesupporting part 14 and, by means of the nut 17 the shelf may be adjustedsothat it is horizontal from front to rear.

In the part 13 above the opening through which the rod 16 passes isanother opening throughwhich passes a bolt 18. This bolt has at therear-end thereof a head 19 which is ofsuch size that it will passthrough the relatively large upper end portion 20 of the keyhole slot inthe member 10 but will not pass through the relatively narrow lower partof the slot. Also, as shown in Figure 3,

the bolt 18 has a part 21 adjacent to the head 19 which is of largerdiameter than the shank of the bolt and smaller than the head. Also,this part 21 of the bolt is preferably tapered, increasing in diametertoward the head 19.

Referringto Figure 2, the lower relatively narrow portion 22 of thekeyhole slot has its sides notched or cut away at 23 and 24 so that therelatively narrow portion is somewhat widened at this part. The part23'-24 of the slot is of a size to receive the tapered portion 21 of thebolt, while the part 22 of-the slot is of smaller width, permitting easypassage of the shank of the bolt but not of sufficient width for passageof the part 21. The slot thus comprises three separate portions, therelatively wide portion 20 of a size to accommodate the head 19 of thebolt, the lower part 2324 to receive the part 21 of the bolt, and theintermediate still narrower part 22.

In mounting this shelf support in position,

the member 10 isfirst secured against the wall; the bolt 18 is insertedthrough the opening therefor in the part 13 and the nut 25 is threadedloosely upon the bolt. Thereupon', therbolt head 19 is inserted throughthe upper relatively wide portion 20 of one of the keyhole slots, theslot selected depending upon the height at which the shelf is desired tobe supported. The head 19 having been inserted into the keyhole slot,and the nut 25 being loose, the member 1314 is allowed to slipdownwardly, the shank of the bolt 18 moving through the part 22 of theslot until it reaches the lower portion 2324. Thenut 25 is now tightenedup to draw the part 21 into the slot portion 2324, the parts beingpreferably so proportioned that the tapered part 21 wedges to someextentagainst the sides 23 and 24. The nut 25 having been tightened and thepart '21 thereby drawn into the slot 1 7 portion 2324, the bracketmember 1314 is effectively locked against upward movement until the nut25 is again loosened to permit rearward movement of the bolt 18. The

narrowed portion 22 of the slot forms a posiber 10 are so spaced" that,when the bolt 18 is in the top slot, the end 16a of the bracing member16 takes into the middle slot; when the bolt 18 is in the middle slotthe end 16a takes into the bottom slot, as is illustrated in thedrawings. About the opening in the part 13 through which the bolt 18passes the metal is preferably forced outwardly as shown at 13a inFigure 3. As shown in Figure 4, the

opening 13?) through this part 13a is squared and, as shown in Figure 4,the shank of the. bolt 18 is correspondingly squared or flattened. Theengagement of the squared shank of the bolt with the squared opening13?) holds the bolt against rotation as the nut 25 is turned to loosenor tighten the support.

As has been mentioned earlier herein, the outer end of the arm 14-has anupwardly bent portion 14a which holds the shelf member 15 from slidingforwardly. Referring to F igure 3, positioned upon this portion 14a ofthe arm is a member 26 for the purpose of preventing the shelf 15 frombeing accidentally lifted upwardly. This member 26, which is shown indetail in Figures 5 and 6, is preferably stamped from sheet metal andcomprises a fiat portion whichoverlaps the edge of the shelf member 15,and a downwardly extending part 26a which embraces the part 14a. In thepart 14a is provided an opening 27. In the part 26a of the member 26 isstamped a small projection26b which snaps into the opening 27 when thepart 26a is slid into place upon the part 14a, and which yieldinglyholds the member 26 in'position. The member 26 may be removed easily bysimply gripping the part 26a with the fingers and pulling upwardly andyet it dependably holds the shelf member 15 against being accidentallytipped up at the front. A pressure upwardly of the shelf member againstthe part 26 effects a lever action which causes the part 26a to bind andfirmly hold on the part 14a. Thus, if the shelf 15 is accidentallystruck from below, it cannot tip and articles carried thereon are notdisturbed. When it is desired to remove the shelf member the members 26are easily slipped out of position as described above.

The bracing rod 16 is secured at its forward end underneath the forwardportion of the horizontal bracketarm 14, as shown in Figure 3,preferably by means of a suitable rivet 16?). From the rivet 16Zithe rod16 slopes downwardly and rearwardly and is bent to extend horizontallyat its threaded portion 1666 which, as above described, passes throughan opening in the vertical bracket arm 13 and enters one of the keyholeopenings in the supporting member 10. As shown in Figure 3, the rear endof the part 16a has formed therein, on the underside thereof, a notch160. This notch is adapted to engage with the member 10 at the bottom ofthe slot, as shown in Figure 3, and it thus holds the bracing rod 16from direct forward with drawal, it being necessary to raise the bracingrod at its rear end to disengage the notch before it may be removed.This notch 160 thus holds the bracket member 1314 againsttippingupwardly atthe front. If the front portion of the bracing rod 16or the front portion of the horizontal bracket arm 14 isaccidentallystruck from below, the action of thenotch 160 preventstipping.

In Figures 7 and 8 there is shown a modification of the constructionjust described.

the relatively large part 20 of the keyhole slot, but will not passthrough the lower part thereof. hen the supporting bracket is placed inposition against the member 10,-and when the bolt head 19 is insertedthroughthe enlarged portions of its keyhole slot, the part 164 of thebracing rod is inserted through the upper enlarged portion of thekeyhole slot positioned to receive it; then the bracket is moveddownwardly" to bring the bolt head into position with respect to thenarrow portion of its slot while, at the same time, the part 16d mov esdownwardly into the narrow portion of its slot. The part 16d thus locksthe lower portion of the supporting bracket against direct forwardwithdrawal and prevents tipping of the shelf in case the rod 16 or thehorizontal arm 14 are struck accidentally from the bottom. When theconstruction shown in Figures 7 and 8 is employed, the opening in thevertical bracket arm 13 through which the part 16a passes is in the formof a vertical slot. In assembling the device, prior-to fastening themember 16 and the bracket member 1314 together, the nut 17 is threadedinto place and the flattened end 16a is then formed on the rod.Thereupon, the flattened end 16d is inserted through the vertical slotin the part 13 and then the member 16 is swung through 90 to bring itinto the position shown in Figures 7 and 8 there upon, the forward endof the member 16 is riveted to the part 14 by the rivet 16?), asshown'in Figure 3.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention and asmany changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is tobe understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth or shown in theaccompanying drawings, is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

I claim:

1. In a support for shelves and the like, in combination, a memberhaving therein a slot having a relatively wide portion and a relativelynarrow porti0n,a bracket member having an arm adapted to restagainst thesurface of said first member, a bolt passing through said arm having ahead of a size to permit passage thereof through the relatively wideportion of said slot and to prevent passage thereof through therelatively narrow portion of said slot, the shank of said'bolt'.

having an enlarged portion adjacent to said head tapered in thedirection of the axis ofsaid bolt and of a size to engage with the sidesof said relatively narrow portion of the This flattened andwidened endportion 16d is of such width that it will pass through tially wedgingsaid enlarged tapered shank portion into said relatively narrow portionof the slot to fasten together said first member and said bracketmember.

I 2. In a support for shelves'and the like, in

combination, a' member having therein a slot having a relatively wideportion and a relatively narrow portion, a bracket member having an armadapted to rest against the surface of said first member, a bolt passingthrough said arm having a head of a size to permit passage thereofthrough the relatively wide portion of said slot and to prevent passagethereof through the relatively narrow portion of said slot, saidrelatively narrow portion of said slot having a notch in a side wallthereof and the shank of said bolt having an enlarged portion adjacentto said head and adapted to enter said notched part of said slot, and anut on the end of said bolt exterior of said arm for drawing saidenlarged shank portion into said notched 'part of the slot to fastentogether said first member and said bracket member.

3. In a support for shelves and the like, in combination, a memberhaving therein a slot having two relatively wide portions connected by arelatively narrow port-ion, a bracket member having an arm adapted torest against the surface of said first member, and a threaded partpassing through said arm having a head of a size to permit passage-;thereof through one of said relatively wide portions of the slot andto prevent passage thereof through the other relatively wide portion andthe relatively narrow portion, the

passage through the intermediate relatively narrow portion of the slot,whereby, upon the threads of said threaded member being made effective,said threaded part is drawn in a directionato draw said enlarged shankportion into said relatively large slot portion with which it is adaptedto coact, said ent larged portion of the shank of said threaded partbeing tapered and increasing in diameter toward the bolt head thereof,whereby said enlarged portion may be wedged into said relatively wideportion of said slot;

"4. In asupportfor shelves and the like, in combination, a supportingmember adapted to be secured against a wall in a vertical position andhaving therein a plurality of vertically spaced openings, a bracketmember having a vertical arm adapted 'to rest against the surface ofsaidmember and an outwardly projecting horizontal arm on which a shelfis adapted to rest, a bolt adjacent the upper end of said vertical armadapted to take into one of said openings, a bracing arm extendingdownwardly and rearwardly from ad vertical arm adjacent the lower endthereof,

. jacentthe outer end of said horizontal arm and passing through saidvertical arm ad acent thelower end thereof, the rear end said bracingarm being adapted to enter another of said openings and having means forengag ng with said supporting member about said, opening to hold saidbracket member against tipping upwardly at the front, and

means coacting with said last-mentioned means for clamping therebetweenSflltl vertioal arm and said supporting member.

I 5. In a support for shelves and the like, incombination, a supportingmember adapted to secured against a wall in a vertical position andhaving therein a plurality of vertically spaced keyhole openings, abracket member having a vertical arm adapted to rest against thesuriaceof said member and an outwardly projecting horizontal arm on which ashelf is adapted to rest, a bolt adjacent the upper end oi said verticalarm adapted to take into one-or said keyhole openings,

- a bracing arm extending downwardly and rearwardly from adjacent theouter end of sald horizontalarm and passing through said and: auntthreaded upon said bracing arm forwardly of said vertical arm foradjusting the BfiGCtlVB length of said bracing arm, andlbrmgmg saidhorizontal arm into proper horizontal position, therear end of saidbracing arm being adapted to enter another of said keyhole openings insaid supporting member and being shaped to coact with said ;keyholeopening ma manner to resist direct forward removal there-from, saidnutservin to clam said su nortinmember and said vertical arm between itselfand a por-' tically spaced. keyhole openings, a bracket member having avertical arm adapted to rest against the surface of said member and anoutwardly pro ecting horizontal arm on which a sheli'flis adapted torest, a bolt adjacent the up aer end of said vertical arm adapted totake into one of said keyhole openings, a :bracing arm extendingdownwardlyand rearwardly from ad acent the outer end. of said hor zontalarm and passing through 7 said vertical arm adjacent the lower endthereof, the rear end of said bracing arm ,rearwardly of said verticalarm of the bracket being adapted to enter another of said keyholeopenings in said supporting member, said bracing arm having thereon twospaced projecting'parts one positioned forwardly of thefvertical arm ofthe bracket to hold the bracing arm against rearward movement and part.

7. In a, support for shelves and the like, in combination, asupportingmember adapt ed to be secured-against a wall in a vertical positionandhaving therein a plurality of vertically spaced keyhole openings, abracket member having a vertical arm adapted to rest against the surfaceof said member and an outwardly projecting horizontal arm on which ashelf is adapted to rest, a bolt adjacent the upper end. i said verticalarm adapted to take into one of said keyhole openings, a bracing armextending downwardly and rearwardly from adjacent the outer end of saidhorizontal a rm and passing through said vertical arm adjacent the lowerend thereof, the rear end of said bracing arm rear wardlyioif' saidvertical arm of the bracket being adapted to enter another of saidkeyhole openings in said supportingmember,

said bracing arm having thereon two spaced projecting parts onepositioned forwardly of the vertical arm of the bracket to hold thebracingarm against rearw rd movement and the other positioned rearwardlyof the supporting member to hold said bracing arm against forwardmovement, said last projecting partbeing at the extreme rear end ofsaidbracing arm and being of a; size to prohibit its passage through therelatively narrow portion of the keyhole slot and to permit its passagethrough the relatively wide portion of the keyhole slots, said key holeslots having their relatively wide portions above their relativelynarrow portions, said bolt and the rear end portion of said bracing armbeing adapted to be inserted into their respective-keyhole slots inunison and the bracket member being adapted to be then moved downwardlybodily to bring the head of said bolt rearwardly of the relativelynarrow portion of its keyholeslot and to bring the rear projecting partor" said bracing arm 'rearwardly of its keyhole slot, one of saidprojecting parts being in the form of a nut threaded upon said bracingarm for clamping said'supporting member ands/aid vertical arm betweenitself andrthe other projecting part. g

8. In a. support forshelves and the like, in combinatiom a bracketmember having a horizontal outwardly extending arm adapted to supportasheli meiube'r rcstin thereon, said bracl-rct memb I adjacent its outerend. andnieans fitted over the end portion of saidbracket member andhaving a part adaptedto substantially snap into said recess, said meanshaving a portion engaging an upturned portion to hold the shelf memberagainst sliding forward and said upturned portion having a recesstherein, and a sheet metal member having substantially sleevelikeportion adapted to slide over said upturned portion and having a partadapted to overlap the shelf member resting upon said arm for preventingtilting in an upward d1- rectlon of said shelf member, said sheet metalmember having an inwardly directed portion adapted to be received withinsaid recess for holding said sheet metal member against movement in anupward direction.

10. In support for shelves and the like. in combination, a member havingtherein. a slot having a relatively wide portion and a relatively narrowportion, a bracket member having an arm adapted to rest against thesurface of said first member, and a threaded member passing through saidarm having a head of a size to permit passage thereof through therelatively wide portion of said slot and to prevent passage thereofthrough the relatively narrow portion of said slot, the

shank of said threaded member having a wedge-shaped portion adjacent tosaid head and of a size to engage with two opposed side portions of saidrelatively narrow portion of the slot, said wedge-shaped portionextending in the direction of the axis of said threaded member, whereby,upon the threads of saidthreaded member being made effective, saidthreaded member is drawn in a direction to wedge said wedge-shapedportion of the shank between said two opposed side portions of the slot.I

11. In a support for shelves and the like, in combination, a memberhaving therein a slot having a relatively wide portion and a relativelynarrow portion, a bracket member having an arm adapted to rest againstthe surface of said first member, a bolt passing through said arm havinga head of a size to permit passage thereof ,througa the relatively wideportion of said slot and to prevent passage thereof through therelatively narrow portion of said slot, the shank of said bolt having anenlarged portion adjacent to said head and of a size to engage with thesides of said relatively narrow portion of the slot, and a nut on theend of said bolt exterior of said arm for drawing said enlarged shankportion into said relatively narrow portion of the slot to fastentogether said first member and said bracket member, said arm having anoutwardly bulging portion around said bolt to accommodate said enlargedportion of the shank of the bolt as the nut is tightened up.

12. In a support for shelves and the like, in combination, a brackethaving a horizontal outwardly extending arm adapted to support a shelfmember resting thereon, the outer end of said arm having an upturned lipto hold the shelf member against sliding forwardly, a sheet metal memberhaving vertically extending portions shaped to embrace said upturned lipand having another portion extending horizontally to cover over saidvertical portions and to overlap the upper surface of the shelf memberto hold the latter against tilting upwardly at the front, said Verticalportions and said upturned lip telescoping one within the other.

13. In a support for shelves and the like, in combination, a brackethaving a horizontal outwardly extending arm adapted to support a shelfmember resting thereon, the outer end of said arm having an upturned lipto hold the shelfmember against slidingforwardly, said upturned liphaving a recess, and a sheet metal member having vertically extendingportions adapted to embrace said lipand a horizontal portion overlappingsaid vertical portions and overhanging the upper surface of said shelfmember to hold the latter against tilting upwardly at the front, saidsheet metal member having also a part adapted to substantially snap intosaid recess.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification this28th day of January, 1928.

